Quinton Smith dies at K-12 Nationals
The U.S. Chess Federation has released a press release of the death of scholastic player Quinton Smith of Estacado High School. The 17-year old Lubbock, Texas resident was competing on the K-12 Nationals at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas which drew 1200 students. Smith had gone up to the top floor when he fell more than 20 stories from the hotel tower.
There were witnesses to the fall. Tish Lairmore, the mother of another competitor in the same tournament, heard Smith falling past her room window… apparently striking something on the way down. Lairmore was quoted as saying,
“I heard a noise, like a loud noise. I ran to the window and then looked out.”
Smith actually laid on the ground for several hours while being attended to by bystanders and later police. According to Estacado’s principal Sam Ayers, Smith apparently went up to the roof after watching some of the games in progress. He has lost his first four games (USCF has a forfeit for the fifth round) and was apparently preparing to break into the win column.
The Lubbock Avalanche Journal reports that the Dallas Police is investigating the matter and awaiting reports (including toxicology) to determine if it was accident or foul play. Smith was said to be a standout student and also participated on the mock trial team, tennis team, choir and theater guild.
Smith survived by his mother Brenda Zapata. Funeral plans are pending. A fund has been set up and those wishing to donate can contact any PlainsCapital Bank.
I went to K-12 nationals myself, saw ambulances, thought nothing of it though.
RIP
Very sad. I too saw the police tape and official vehicles when I made a trip to my car during a break in the Koltanowski conference. Had no idea until yesterday what had happened. Quinton evidently was an active and well liked young man. Our thoughts are with his family and the school community in Lubbock.
LOVE.
Tragic. Condolences to his family and friends from the Jamaican chess fraternity.
Very depressing and perplexing.
Deepest condolences to the family of Quinton Smith, and hopefully
they gain the clearest picture of what happened.
Condolences to the family of Quinton. I can only imagine the grief his mom has at losing her only kid.
Quentin
Condolences to the family of Quinton Smith. May he rest in peace.
Quinton was a great student and a great friend.
RIP
See you when time comes
As of today, there has been no update or information released to Quintons mother regarding the investigation into his death. No cause of death released or a death certificate. If anyone knows anything, please come forward. Quinton deserves better.
I would like to know more information about this case. This is not the first case of a chess player falling from a multi story building to their death.It happened to a young female master from UK just a few years ago. Please respond to my inquiry as soon as possible.
That is a crime what happened to that young man. Someone had better be help accountable.